I measured one of the Arendal 1528 Tower 8 loudspeakers, serial number 1521BA251552, with DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone for the farfield frequency behavior and dispersion, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield responses. I measured the 1528 Tower 8's impedance magnitude and electrical phase angle with Dayton Audio's DATS V2 system.
Arendal specifies the 1528 Tower 8's anechoic sensitivity as 89.5dB/2…
I performed a full set of measurements on the LAiV Harmony µDAC using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. The coaxial S/PDIFand optical TosLink inputs both accepted data sampled at rates up to 192kHz. Apple's AudioMIDI utility revealed that the USB port accepted 32-bit integer data sampled at all rates from 44.1kHz to 1536kHz! The USB Prober app identified the Harmony µDAC as "LAIV Harmony DAC" from "LAIV Audio" and indicated that the USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. I used optical S/PDIF data for the testing as well as USB data…
Description: Three-way, ported or sealed (user option) floorstanding loudspeaker. Enclosure material 28mm high-density fiberboard (HDF). Drive units: four 8" aluminum-cone woofers, 5" carbon graphene-cone midrange, 28mm lithium-magnesium-dome tweeter with waveguide loading, controlled directivity, and acoustic lens. Crossover frequencies: 420Hz and 2.8kHz. Frequency response: 42Hz–20kHz ±2dB. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 89.5dB/2.83V/1m. Max SPL (full bandwidth signal) 118dB peak, 112dB RMS, 20Hz–20kHz. Recommended amplifier power: Up to 1000W.
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LAiV's sole worldwide dealer is Alvin Chee of Vinshine Audio in Singapore. I've known and worked with Alvin since 2020, when I reviewed the original Denafrips Terminator and Ares II DACs. I can say without reservation that he is one of the nicest, most straight-talking, truth-telling, word-keeping, deliver-on-time audio people I've met.
I felt badly for Mr. Chee when, in 2024, Denafrips pulled its products from Vinshine and began selling direct (footnote 1). I felt bad because, while Denafrips makes high-quality, high-value converters that…
Digital sources: dCS Lina DAC with Master Clock; HoloAudio Spring 3 KTE and Denafrips Terminator Plus DACs; TEAC CRDS-701T, Shanling ET3, and Sparkler Audio S515t CD transports.
Integrated amplifier: Linear Tube Audio Z10e.
Loudspeakers: Voxativ Hagen2.
Cables: Speaker: Cardas Clear Beyond. Interconnects: AudioQuest Black Beauty. Digital: AudioQuest Cinnamon (USB and coax). AC: AudioQuest Tornado.
Accessories: AudioQuest Niagara 1000 power conditioner, Sound Anchor Reference stands.—Herb Reichert
Kung made a point in emails of including prices with a 15% tariff, noting that in pre-tariff times, prices were considerably lower.
The Elekit TU-8400 SET amp with Lundahl LL2777B ($1363), Elekit TU-8450 preamp ($750), Elekit TU-8888 monoblocks ($5000/pair), and Elekit TU-8550 preamp ($1363) were joined by the Sun Valley SV-1645D SET amplifier ($3047). Keep an eye out for the Elekit TU-8888 monoblocks, which I have in for review.
Digital source: Panasonic DP-UB9000 disc player.
Integrated amplifier: Hegel H600.
Cables: Speaker: QED XT25. Digital: Syncwire TosLink.—Thomas J. Norton
[10] Microphone Techniques & Soundstage Maps (DDD) 6:08
2 omnis (Index 1), 3 omnis (Index 2), ORTF cardioids (Index 3), "shuffled" ORTF cardioids (Index 4), Schoeps SFM 6 "sphere" (Index 5)
Producer: John Atkinson
Recording Engineer: Robert Harley
Recording Venue: The First United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, NM
Recording Date: November 5, 1993
Microphones: two Brüel & Kjaer 4006 ½" omnidirectionals with black (diffuse-field) grids; as above with EAR The Mic set to omnidirectional pattern; two AKG D190E dynamic cardioids…
Twenty-one years after its initial release on SACD, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's mesmerizing DSD recording of Handel's La Lucrezia and arias from Theodora and Serse has been remastered and rereleased in three formats: physical CD, 24/192, and Dolby Atmos. Regardless of…